Triptych Brewing
1703 Woodfield Drive
Savoy, IL
TriptychBrewing.com

Monday-Wednesday: 3-9 p.m.
Thursday: 3-10 p.m.
Friday: 12-11 p.m.
Saturday: 12-11 p.m.
Sunday: 12-8 p.m.

History in short: It all started some 10 years ago, when Anthony Benjamin and a couple friends had an inkling to start a brewery. “I had home-brewing experience and computer engineering experience, and I had just been named the Midwest Home Brewer of the Year, so thought it was the logical next step,” Benjamin says with a laugh. 

The trio was originally aiming to open up shop in Champaign, but they were narrowly beaten to the punch by another brewery. Nearby Savoy, as it turned out, was more of what they could afford at the time, and the city of about 9,000 was excited about the opportunity to work with them. 

The original production space consisted of just 500 square feet and a small three-barrel system, but through a host of renovations, lots of grinding and reinvesting profits into the company, they’re now operating a three-vessel, 15-barrel system and modern canning line amidst some nearly 8,000 square feet of space dedicated solely to the brewing process. 

The larger production facility is now across the street from the expanded 5,000 square-foot taproom that Benjamin originally envisioned as a “library that serves beer” or “at least something comfortable where people would want to sit and talk and hang out and try beer.”

The space: The larger production facility is now across the street from the expanded 5,000 square-foot taproom that Benjamin originally envisioned as a “library that serves beer” or “at least something comfortable where people would want to sit and talk and hang out and try beer.”

Coming out of Covid, they renovated the taproom, built a new bar and, as Benjamin puts it, “made it more reflective of where we are now.” Tons of natural light warms the room, and you’ll find an assortment of couches, tables, murals, pinball machines and dart boards, as well as a full-size shuffleboard. 

Interesting note: In addition to overhauling the taproom, the pandemic gave the management team at Triptych an opportunity to restructure the framework of the business, which offers $20 an hour to start and includes paid vacation and retirement for all employees. Tips, meanwhile, are donated to a charity of the staff’s choosing.

What we’re drinking: This, admittedly, is a very eclectic selection Triptych offers, including a whopping 28 on draft at any one time. Dank Meme is a popular hazy pale ale that won a bronze medal at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival. Chip it on the Green is a German-inspired kolsch that’s perfectly crisp for the end of summer. And get ready for their highly rated Oktoberfest lager called Apine Hat Party, which is out now. Food trucks, like Flour & Fire wood-fired pizza and La Paloma tacos, are staples Wednesday-Saturday. 

“It was really important to us to own our home market, and we take pride in that and focus on making sure everyone around us is happy with what we’re doing.” — Owner Anthony Benjamin

On the horizon: The Triptych distribution footprint is expanding, and they’re currently working on some collaborations with various University of Illinois departments. Heading down to watch the Illini play football this fall? Just so happens you can find Dank Meme IPA at Memorial Stadium.

From the brewery: “I always felt that if you can’t be strong in your home market, you can’t be a strong brewery. So that was really important to us to own our home market, and we take pride in that and focus on making sure everyone around us is happy with what we’re doing.” — Owner Anthony Benjamin